If renewable energy is to become a main power source in Japan, the use of wind power needs to be sharply expanded. The share of wind turbines in this nation’s renewable power capacity is much smaller than that of solar panels. Growth of onshore solar power, the mainstream way to use the energy of air flow to generate electricity, has been slow in Japan. This is mainly because the country is covered by mountain forests across much of its area and surrounded by the sea. On the other hand, offshore solar power, which is easier to operate on a larger scale and growing fast in Europe, is attracting increasing attention. The government needs to act swiftly to promote the development of this type of wind power by setting rules for the use of sea areas for this clean energy source. Outside Japan, wind farms are fast becoming mainstream sources of power as costs drop as they get larger. In sharp contrast, the pace of expansion of wind power has been glacial in Japan. Wind turbines generate less than 1 percent of the nation’s total power output.
Asahi Shimbun 22nd Oct 2018 read more »